Table 2.
Results of analysis between groups, before and after the intervention period. Data are expressed as numbers, means ± standard deviations and percentages. The statistically significant differences before and after the intervention period and between groups are marked with symbols (between baseline and after the 12-week rehabilitation period: † p < 0.001 and * p < 0.05; between groups: # p < 0.05).
| Hybrid Exercise Group | Tele-Exercise Group | Cohen’s d | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baseline | After 12 w | % Changes within Group | Baseline | After 12 w | % Changes within Group | Baseiline | After 12 w | ||
| Age | years | 60.0 ± 9.5 | - | - | 58.7 ± 9.5 | - | - | 0.13 | - |
| Sex (Female) | n | 6 | - | - | 8 | - | - | - | - |
| Body mass index | kg/m2 | 30.5 ± 4.0 | 30.7 ± 4.0 | 3.4 ± 4.3 | 27.9 ± 4.9 | 28.9 ± 4.8 # | 4.9 ± 3.9 | 0.58 | 0.53 |
| Lean body mass | kg | 62.1 ± 6.5 | 62.4 ± 6.5 | 0.4 ± 3.2 | 58.7 ± 7.1 | 59.9 ± 7.4 | 1.8 ± 3.1 | 0.50 | 0.36 |
| Body fat | % | 32.9 ± 9.2 | 30.8 ± 8.5 # | −7.7 ± 12.7 | 32.7 ± 9.6 | 31.0 ± 9.0 | −1.0 ± 20.1 | 0.02 | 0.03 |
| Muscle mass | kg | 29.8 ± 4.5 | 33.5 ± 7.4 # | 8.0 ± 17.6 | 29.7 ± 4.3 | 32.8 ± 13.3 | 7.0 ± 38.9 | 0.02 | 0.06 |
| Visceral fat | score | 14.1 ± 4.3 | 13.6 ± 4.3 | −4.0 ± 11.7 | 12.3 ± 4.2 * | 11.2 ± 4.1 # | −7.0 ± 22.2 | 0.42 | 0.57 |
| Neck circumference | cm | 40.0 ± 3.5 | 38.1 ± 4.2 # | −6.5 ± 7.0 | 38.2 ± 3.8 | 37.9 ± 3.6 | −4.3 ± 3.5 | 0.49 | 0.28 |
| Waist–hip ratio | m | 1.0 ± 0.1 | 0.9 ± 0.1 | −5.3 ± 6.1 | 1.0 ± 0.1 | 0.9 ± 0.2 | −5.1 ± 3.8 | 0.00 | 0.00 |
| Δchest | cm | 4.0 ± 2.2 | 5.8 ± 2.0 # | 33.1 ± 20.9 | 5.2 ± 1.6 | 5.6 ± 1.4 | 10.3 ± 57.8 | 0.62 | 0.12 |
| d-ROMs | U. carr. | 337.7 ± 76.3 | 376.5 ± 102.4 | 8.7 ± 35.6 | 302.8 ± 77.0 | 316.3 ± 70.2 | 20.6 ± 39.8 | 0.46 | 0.69 |
| PAT | U. cor. | 2671.9 ± 400.1 | 2823.0 ± 537.1 | 7.6 ± 27.7 | 2586.7 ± 414.1 | 2786.1 ± 365.4 | 12.5 ± 44.6 | 0.21 | 0.08 |
| FEV1 | % of predicted | 90.7 ± 18.5 | 91.7 ± 19.9 | 6.3 ± 25.8 | 92.4 ± 16.5 | 100.2 ± 15.2 # | −6.3 ± 25.8 | 0.10 | 0.48 |
| FVC | % of predicted | 90.5 ± 16.6 | 91.9 ± 18.5 | 6.6 ± 26.6 | 93.0 ± 15.3 | 99.2 ± 14.3 # | 6.6 ± 26.6 | 0.16 | 0.44 |
| PEF | % of predicted | 106.4 ± 23.8 | 102.9 ± 26.0 | −0.6 ± 31.5 | 106.8 ± 25.9 | 113.2 ± 25.3 | 0.6 ± 31.5 | 0.02 | 0.40 |
| DLCO | % of predicted | 77.3 ± 13.5 | 80.9 ± 17.7 | 0.5 ± 32.3 | 67.7 ± 16.6 # | 79.7 ± 15.2 † | 26.0 ± 33.1 | 0.63 | 0.07 |
| Handgrip | kg | 31.7 ± 10.1 | 33.4 ± 10.0 * | 9.0 ± 7.2 | 32.5 ± 9.0 | 33.5 ± 10.1 * | 9.1 ± 7.5 | 0.08 | 0.01 |
| 30 s sit-to-stand | repetitions | 11.4 ± 3.4 | 13.9 ± 2.5 † | 19.8 ± 15.9 | 12.4 ± 3.0 | 14.7 ± 4.3 * | 23.9 ± 7.7 | 0.31 | 0.22 |
| 6MWT | m | 440.5 ± 95.3 | 521.4 ± 88.0 † | 15.5 ± 12.4 | 500.8 ± 114.9 | 555.6 ± 107.9 † | 13.7 ± 12.8 | 0.57 | 0.35 |
| 6MWT | % of predicted | 84.4 ± 16.8 | 99.8 ± 13.1 † | - | 87.1 ± 25.9 | 101.9 ± 16.5 † | - | 0.12 | 0.14 |
| Leg fatigue BS-resting | score | 0.5 ± 0.8 | 0.1 ± 0.3 * | −3.2 ± 1.9 | 0.7 ± 0.9 | 0.7 ± 1.3 | - | 0.24 | 0.64 |
| Leg fatigue BS-end 6MWT | score | 1.3 ± 1.2 | 1.0 ± 1.0 | 1.7 ± 0.9 | 1.8 ± 1.4 | 1.4 ± 2.2 | 0.6 ± 0.1 | 0.38 | 0.23 |
| Dyspnea BS-resting | score | 0.3 ± 0.6 | 0.1 ± 0.3 * | 0.2 ± 0.4 | 0.5 ± 0.8 | 0.6 ± 1.0 | 0.4 ± 0.6 | 0.28 | 0.68 |
| Dyspnea BS-end 6MWT | score | 1.4 ± 1.6 | 0.5 ± 0.8 * | −3.9 ± 1.1 | 2.0 ± 1.7 | 1.0 ± 1.4 * | −3.5 ± 0.9 | 0.36 | 0.44 |
| SBP resting | mmHg | 136.2 ± 15.9 | 128.0 ± 9.1 * | −5.5 ± 12.6 | 125.4 ± 15.3 | 128.2 ± 13.6 | −1.5 ± 14.3 | 0.69 | 0.02 |
| SBP end-6MWT | mmHg | 155.8 ± 15.4 | 151.6 ± 12.3 | −2.2 ± 11.4 | 151.7 ± 26.8 # | 146.3 ± 19.8 # | −6.4 ± 23.7 | 0.19 | 0.32 |
| DBP resting | mmHg | 83.1 ± 11.4 | 83.8 ± 5.6 | - | 78.7 ± 7.9 | 81.0 ± 7.6 | −2.5 ± 9.8 | 0.45 | 0.42 |
| DBP end-6MWT | mmHg | 86.8 ± 9.1 | 87.1 ± 6.9 | 0.7 ± 12.7 | 85.2 ± 10.3 | 81.3 ± 9.2 | 1.9 ± 26.1 | 0.16 | 0.71 |
| HR resting | bpm | 77.9 ± 16.0 | 76.5 ± 11.2 | −2.3 ± 21.8 | 79.2 ± 13.6 | 76.8 ± 12.9 | −4.6 ± 15.1 | 0.09 | 0.47 |
| HR end-6MWT | bpm | 113.2 ± 19.0 | 110.6 ± 16.8 | −6.5 ± 12.4 | 123.8 ± 18.4 | 113.5 ± 17.2 | −6.0 ± 28.7 | 0.57 | 0.17 |
Abbreviations: 6MWT = six-minute walking test; BS = Borg Scale; DBP = diastolic blood pressure; DLCO = diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide; d-ROMs = reactive oxygen metabolites’ levels; FEV1 = forced expiratory volume in 1st sec; FVC= forced vital capacity; HR = heart rate; PAT = plasma antioxidant capacity; PEF = peak expiratory flow; SBP = systolic blood pressure; Δchest = chest circumference difference between maximal inhalation and exhalation. Cohen’s d effect size classification: d ≥ 0.00 to < 0.20 is ignored, d ≥ 0.20 to <0.50 is small, d ≥ 0.50 to < 0.80 is medium, d ≥ 0.80 to < 1.30 is large, and d ≥ 1.30 is very large.